Family dinner...
Nineteen
Tori pulled up to the gate of the base, rolling her window down and preparing her argument for the stolid looking guard who approached.
"Hey, No neck. Open the damn gate." Jim rasped from beside her, poking his head truculently out at the hapless man. "Fore I get out of this here car and break it."
The guard stopped, stared, then his eyes lit up with unmistakable joy. "Commander Jimmy!" He almost tripped over himself trying to get the barrier open. "Wow… I didn't know you were comin down here! Wait till I tell the guys!"
Hm. Tori watched bemusedly as the man waved like a child at her passenger. Guess it does depend on who you know around this place. "He wasn't nearly that nice to Jade." She commented. "She had to get rough with him."
Jim leaned over her and pinned the guard with a pair of ice blue eyes. "That right, No neck? You give mah kid a hard time?"
The guard looked terminally wounded. "Not after she said who she was, sir! If she'd have just said right off, we'd have let her right in!"
"Uh huh.' James sat back. "G'wan, Tori. Let's get this land boat parked so I can see what a mess they made of this here joint."
"You got it, dad." Tori drove on, finding Jade's Volvo in the lot she remembered and selecting a spot right next to it. She was glad she was here. Her stomach upset had been getting worse for the last while, and she was seriously looking forward to seeing her partner and satisfying her curiosity as to whether she was the cause. She got out, and waited for her passengers to do the same, then she locked the doors. "Jade has a little office upstairs in the big building. I'll go find her if you guys want to check this place out."
"She take you over to our old place?" James asked.
"Sort of." Tori grinned. "I'll explain later… be right back." She trotted off towards the headquarters building, leaving her in-laws behind to revisit old memories. The guard respected the ID she'd clipped to her collar and opened the door, and she made her way up the stairs and down the hall. The door to Jade's temporary office was closed, and she paused, then knocked lightly on it.
For a moment, there was no answer, then Jade's voice responded. "Yeah?"
Uh oh. Tori pushed the door open and stuck her head inside. One look at Jade's face and she quickly stepped past the portal, and closed it behind her, crossing the floor and circling the desk to kneel at her lover's side. "Hey."
Jade had her head propped up on one hand. "Hey." She answered softly. "Hope your day was better than mine."
Tori put a gentle hand on Jade's knee, and rubbed it. "What's wrong?" She could see the tension and unhappiness written all over her partner's face, and she stood and perched on the desk edge to get closer. "Sweetheart?"
Jade exhaled, and put her head down on Tori's thigh, wordlessly seeking comfort. She closed her eyes as the Latina responded, threading fingers through her hair and rubbing the back of her neck. 'Sorry." She mumbled. "I told Chuck about us."
"Oh." Tori's own eyes closed in sympathy. "Not a good reaction, huh?"
"No."
Tori leaned over and kissed the top of Jade's head, giving her as much of a hug as she could in their somewhat awkward position. "I'm sorry."
Jade exhaled. "I don't even know why I should care, Tori. I haven't talked to him in what... ten years? It's not like he's a close friend, even." She put a hand on Tori's knee, and rubbed her thumb against the denim covering it. "Damn, it stung, though."
"I know." Tori kept up her light massage on Jade's neck, moving lower as she felt the tension knotting her shoulders. "I wish you'd have just let them…"
Jade shook her head. "No." She lifted up off Tori's lap and met her eyes. "You are my partner, and god damn it, if they can't deal with that, to hell with them all." Her blue eyes glinted fiercely. "I am not ashamed of us."
Tori stroked her cheek gently. "I know you aren't. I'm not either. It's just hard, Jade. We both know that. We've both been so lucky there have been people in our lives who do accept us, who accept this without question, to balance the idiots who don't."
Jade sighed, and put her head back down for more soothing. "Yeah, I realize that." She closed her eyes. "My folks here?"
"Mmhm." Tori paid particular attention to a knot she could feel in Jade's neck, and saw the wince as she pressed on it. "You need a chiropractor, love."
"Hot tub." Jade countered. "With you in it."
Tori rolled her eyes at the ceiling. "You are so stubborn."
"Family trait."
"You're lucky I love your family." Tori leaned over and kissed the spot on Jade's neck, then nibbled her earlobe, getting a soft grunt of surprise in return. "Come on – let's get this dinner over with. I missed my snuggle this morning, and I've been cranky all day."
Finally, Jade smiled, turning her head and peering up at Tori's face. "Me too." She sat up and gave Tori's knee a squeeze, then stood. "You're right. Let's get this over with." Her voice paused, as she shut her computer down. "Because tomorrow, we're going to find out just exactly why this place stinks to high heaven."
It was obvious that Chuckie had told his father. Jade could see the discomfort in the three people waiting for them even at this distance. She took a breath, and tugged on her father's sleeve. "Dad?"
"Yeap?" James finished closing the door and peered at her. "What's up, Gigi?"
"I think we're going to have a problem." She lowered her voice, glancing across the car where Tori and Cecilia were getting out on the other side. "I... don't think Jeff and his family appreciate my lifestyle."
James looked over at the waiting group, then at her. "Cause you drive a fancy car?"
Jade rubbed her nose. "Not that lifestyle." She amended. "I meant Tori and I."
Her father considered that. "Huh. That might be true." He admitted. "Jeff never did take to anyone who didn't fit his idea of what was right and natural." They walked slowly around the front of the car, joining Tori and Ceci. "C'mere, kumquat." James put a genial arm across Tori's shoulders, and another over Jade's. "Let's go."
Ceci gave him a curious look, then caught on, and slipped to the other side of Tori, tucking an arm around her waist. "All righty then." She agreed. "Ah. A steakhouse. How Republican."
"Hey." Tori objected jokingly. "I'm the one who eats vegetables." She poked a finger at Jade. "Unlike her."
They chuckled, and walked towards the restaurant. Jade felt a little silly, but she could see the exchange of glances as Jeff took in their posture, the look on her father's face, and the very obvious acceptance of both her and Tori inherent in their body language. Sometimes. She mused. I underestimate my parents. The thought made her smile, and she slid an arm around her father's waist and gave him a squeeze.
"'Lo there, Jeff." James drawled as they arrived in front of the door. "Been a while."
"Jim." The commander acknowledged quietly, shifting his eyes slightly. "Cecilia, good to see you."
Cecilia looked him right in the eye and smiled. "Same here. Nice to have these little family get togethers, isn't it?" She nodded at Jeff's wife. "Hello, Sue. Have you met Victoria? No? Why don't' we go inside and catch up."
It would be, Tori sighed inwardly, be almost comical if it were happening to someone else. They all walked stiffly inside, and were taken to a waiting table, where Tori found herself seated between Ceci and James; across from the dour looking Chuck. For a moment, she felt very sad, because she knew this should have been a happy occasion. Then her common sense kicked in and she straightened, cupping her hands around her water glass. Her eyes met the Commanders calmly. "As a matter of fact..." She answered Ceci's question. "The commander and I have met, in fact, we had lunch together."
Unable to avoid conversation, Jeff Ainsbright cleared his throat. "Yes, we did." He managed to get out, ignoring the quick, almost startled look from his wife. "Yes, we did."
"That must have been fun." Ceci remarked. "Let me guess, on base?" She gave Tori an amused look. "Was it meatloaf or open faced turkey sandwiches?"
James snorted softly.
"Meatloaf." Jade acknowledged quietly. "Still tastes the same."
"Oh. Yum." Her mother made a face. The table fell silent. Ceci drummed fingers on the table and tried again. "Okay, folks, listen up." She put her hands flat on the wood surface. "Either we agree to have a nice time here, or I'm going to have to start talking about Greenpeace. Which is it going to be?"
The Ainsbrights stared at her. Finally, Sue Ainsbright sighed, and pushed a curl of gray hair out of one eye. "Ceci, you always did have the tact of a dead swordfish, didn't you?"
"I'm sorry, get over it." The smaller woman shot back. "Broaden your horizons, adjust your thinking, swallow an ExLax, whatever it takes, but drag yourselves into the 21st century, and get over the fact that my kid's gay, okay?"
Tori bit the inside of her lip so hard it almost bled. The look on the Ainsbright's face was so priceless, she wished she had a camera, though one look at Jade's wide eyes told her that her beloved partner wasn't sharing the mirth.
"Well." James drawled. "Guess I can show em my rainbow keychain now, huh?"
Jeff Ainsbright took a breath, released it, then just lifted a hand and let it fall. "Haven't changed a lick, have you, Ceci?" He managed a faint smile. "You always took the gut punch if you could."
Ceci shrugged.
James took her hand in his. "Straight talk never killed no one, Jeff." He advised his old friend. "I've been in places that could've used more of that." Their eyes met, and something passed between them.
The commander nodded. "You're right, James. Jade, I apologize. I… it was just a shock, that's all." He cleared his throat. "Ms. Vega, my apologies as well."
"For what?" Tori asked mildly. "Jade and I are used to getting mixed reactions to our being partners. Some people just can't handle it."
"It's not that." Sue Ainsbright interjected. "We're very progressive people. It's just that we've known... or, well, we thought we knew Jade, and it's just… strange… that's all." She reddened. "That you're so… um…"
"Out?" Jade remarked conversationally.
The commander shot her a look, then glanced away.
"It's not contagious." Jade said.
"It's disgusting." Chuckie interrupted.
"Charles." His mother looked horrified.
"You can sit here and pretend, but I won't." Chuck said. "It's disgusting, and you're perverts." He got up and slammed his chair back, then stalked out of the restaurant, as startled patrons watched him go.
The commander and his wife had the grace to look intensely embarrassed. "He doesn't mean that." Jeff finally said, quietly. "He's just… " His eyes lifted and finally met Jade's. "He never really did let go of you, and he was hoping.."
Jade let out a long breath. "I know." She said. "He's a good man, Uncle Jeff. " She felt the awkwardness in the name. "I'm sorry." She felt a little guilty, that she'd never thought of Chuckie, not for the longest time since she'd left the base. Not until he'd popped back up into her life as part of this damned investigation.
Now he was lost to her again. She didn't know whether to feel sorry or relieved. At least he won't be bugging me to go out anymore. Jade looked up to find Tori gazing across the table at her with a look of quiet compassion, and she managed a smile in return. She wished they were done with this, suddenly. Wished they were homeward bound, and away from this unneeded stress, headed for a quiet night and a warm hot tub together.
Getting cowardly in your old age, Gigi? She mocked herself. "Let me go talk to him." Jade stood and pushed her chair in before they could protest, then turned and walked away from the table, towards the outside door Chuckie had left through.
The commander and Jim exchanged glances. "Sorry, Jim." Jeff Ainsbright muttered. "Hell of a reunion."
"Could have been worse." Ceci motioned over the hovering waiter. "I could have invited my brother and sister." She held a finger up. "Do you have beer?"
"Of course, ma'am." The waiter spluttered.
"Bring the largest container of it you have, and seven glasses." Ceci told him. "And what are those, peanuts? Put them down." She handed a peanut to Tori. "I could have been a social director, don't you think?"
Weak chuckles responded to her valiant attempt.
The air outside the restaurant was cool, and a little damp, and Jade paused to take a steadying breath of it before she let her eyes search the parking lot. Her mother had surprised her, she admitted privately. But then, her parents had been surprising her for a while now, hadn't they?
Jade spotted Chuck standing by a beige Ford Explorer, and she headed in that direction passing through bars of twilight mixed with the lurid ochre of the security lamps.
He looked up as he heard her footsteps, and his lip curled reflexively. "Get out of here."
Jade paused several body lengths away. "Listen."
"Get the fuck out of here you freak." Chuck spat back. "Just get away from me."
"Charles." Jade put her hands on her hips. "Get a grip. I'm not touching you." Her stomach twisted in a knot. "Calm down."
He stared at her. "You make me sick."
Jade rolled her eyes. "What in the hell do you think you are, a bad commercial for Jesse Helms? Get off the milk crate, Chuck. I'm not the first gay person you've ever known." She took a step closer. "What's the big deal?"
Chuck's eyes narrowed. "What's the big deal?" He asked softly, balling his fists, and coming a little closer. "What's the big deal? You fucking little lying perverted slut."
"Charles." Jade's voice dropped in pitch. "Slow down. I never lied to you."
"Yeah?" Chuckie exhaled. "I knew you'd follow me out here." He turned and grabbed something leaning against the Ford and lunged at her. "I knew I'd have a chance to do this!"
Jade barely reacted in time. She saw the bat headed towards her and half turned, taking the crunching blow on her shoulder. "Chuck!" She dodged the return blow and backed off. "Stop it!"
"Fuck you." He was beyond reasoning. "Making a fool out of me.. bet the guys all knew, didn't they? Didn't they, Jade?"
The bat came back at her, catching her on the hip before she could evade it, but Chuck overbalanced and smashed full into her and they both went to the ground in a tangle of limbs.
Shit. Jade's defensive reactions kicked into gear, and she swung an elbow up into his chin, feeling the shock of the impact as his head rocked back. She got a knee between them, and pushed up, then to one side, throwing Chuck off her. "Stupid bastard."
Jade grabbed the bat, which had rolled free from his hands and flung it from her, hearing it clatter and roll down past the next row of parked cars. She got to her feet just as he did, and her body moved, balancing as she whipped out a roundhouse kick that caught him flatfooted in the side of the head with a crunch Jade could feel all the way down her leg.
His body slammed against the car next to where they were fighting, setting off its alarm with a loud, strident sound. They both froze, then stared at each other. "Now what?" Jade asked. "You going to find another bat, or are you going to just get the gun out of the trunk and shoot me, Chuck?"
Very slowly, he lifted a hand to the side of his face, and touched it, then looked his palm. It was stained with the blood still dripping from his ear.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Jade asked, in a hoarse voice. "We haven't seen each other for ten fucking years, Chuck.. why the hell do you care what my preferences turned out to be?"
He had to swallow a few times before he spoke. "Never could figure out why you just walked out on us."
Jade sighed inwardly, lifting a shaking hand to rub her temples. "You know as well as I d…"
"You were just playing with me."
The throbbing in her head increased. "Chuck… we were kids, then. We went different ways, that's all."
"Bullshit." He started towards her again.
"Stop!" Jade heard the sharp edge of anger in her own voice. "It's not bullshit. I had no fucking clue what the hell I wanted then." She held out both hands to ward him off. "Chuck, don't make me fight you. Please."
"No wonder you were always trying to beat the guys… you thought you were one." Chuck sneered. "Why didn't you get your daddy to buy you a prick, you'd have fit right in."
Jade winced inwardly. "I never wanted one."
"Yeah? Bet you use a fake one now with that little slut whore in there, doncha?" Chuck replied. "I should.."
"You should shut yer mouth fore I inset yer leg inside it." The low, raspy voice coming from the darkness behind Chuck made them both go still.
Jade blinked. "Dad, I can handle this."
James West eased out into the orange light soundlessly, sliding between Jade and her adversary in a flickering motion. "Ah do suspect you can, Gigi." He agreed softly. "'Cept one of the privileges of being a daddy is that ah get to take out the trash, and ah do believe there is some trash here that needs to be taken." He paused significantly. "out."
There was no humor in his voice.
There was no humor in the ice blue eyes that pinned the now silent Chuck with deadly intent. "Seems you're pretty good at taking shots at woman. You ready to give an old retired sailor a try?"
Chuck's gaze held for an instant, then dropped to the ground. "No sir."
"G'wan inside." James said flatly. "Get yer ass cleaned up and act like a man."
"Yes, sir." Chuck muttered. He turned, letting his eyes flick to Jade for a long moment before he retreated towards the restaurant.
James exhaled. "Suck yer brains out your head when they put the stripes on, I swear to god." He turned and studied his daughter anxiously. "You all right?"
Jade sat down on the low wall that separated the parking lot, and let her head drop into her hands.
Tori ducked past an exiting station wagon and broke into a run that brought her up to Jade's side moments after she sat down. "Jesus. What the hell is going on?" She hopped over the wall and settled next to her wife, putting an arm around her waist and resting a hand on Jade's knee. Only an awkward tangle with the waiter had delayed her leaving the table after a stunned moment when she was absolutely sure Jade was in trouble.
Jade rubbed her face. "Shit." She straightened and took a deep breath. "I didn't expect that."
"Expect what?" Tori looked around Jade at Jim. "Dad, what happened?"
The retired seal scowled. "Big bag load of no sense hurting."
Tori glanced at Jade's face, searching it anxiously. "Did he hurt you? I'll get that brand new SUV and run him over, I swear it." She announced seriously. "You'd hardly feel it with those tires."
Jade's lips twitched into a half smile involuntarily. "I think I did more damage than he did." She admitted softly. "Physically, at least… I don't know Tori. I wasn't expecting a reaction like that. It's like he's taking it all personally." She glanced over at her father. "Guess we'd better go back inside."
"You can't be serious." Tori snorted. "And have dinner with that little…"
"Tor." Jade interrupted her quietly. "I am not going to let him think he scared me off."
Tori stared at her. "Jade, this isn't an ego contest."
"It's not." Jade replied, just as seriously. "But if we leave now, he wins. You can't let people like that win, and get comfortable, Tori."
Jim patted her on the back. "Want to skip the hot plate and go right for the good stuff? I saw them ice cream plates on that tray back there." He remarked, practically. "Jade's right, kumquat. Get that boy worse if we stick it out."
Tori watched a quiet, sad knowledge settle into Jade's eyes. She folded her fingers around her partner's hand and squeezed gently. "Go ahead, Dad. We'll meet you there." Her gaze lifted to meet James's, very briefly, and they exchanged a look, then the old seaman stood to go.
"Sorry bout that, Gigi." James leaned over, surprisingly, and kissed his daughter on the head. Then he turned and slipped away into the shadows, leaving the two women alone in the cool night air.
Tori waited a little while, just flexing her fingers around Jade's as they sat in silence. "Did he hurt you?" She finally asked, seeing the muddy scuffs on Jade's skin. "You look a little pale."
Jade drew in a breath, held it momentarily, and then released it in a sigh. "I'm trying to reconcile the friend I used to have with that person who just spewed a gutload of hate at me." She said, "I don't understand it, Tori. I just don't."
The Latina gazed out at the parking lot unseeingly. Not a stranger to senseless hate, whether they were microaggressions despite her privileged upbringing or her own family learning of her orientation. "Yeah. I know. It's how I felt when my mother mother hit me that night, and then again, when I woke up in that hospital." She said. "I didn't understand it. I hadn't changed at all, so why did they?"
"Mm." Jade nodded. "That's exactly it. I'm the same person he knew yesterday.. hell, the same one he knew this morning. Why should this matter?" Her voice trailed off. "I just don't get it." She looked down at her hands, then flexed the one Tori was holding. The motion caused a jolt of pain to course up her arm. "Ow."
Tori turned a very concerned look on her. "What? Did he hit you? Where are you hurting, Jade?"
"My shoulder." Jade winced, easing the sleeve up over her left arm and peering at it.
"Oh." Tori sucked in a breath, seeing the mottled red and purple area. "Jesus Christ."
"Hm." Jade moved her arm a little, then realized that wasn't a good idea. "Hell of a bruise."
"You need to get that x-rayed." Tori decided. "Don't even bother." She put a hand over Jade's mouth. "No arguments, Gigi." Slowly, she removed her hand. "Okay?"
Jade studied her. "So, does that mean I get out of the optometrist's appointment tomorrow, then?" She asked, with a tiny, mischievous sparkle in her eye.
Tori put her hands on her hips and gave her lover a dour look. "I should take you to the hospital tonight." She lifted Jade's sleeve again and looked at the injury. "Jade, that looks awful."
"No way." Jade shook her head, and stood up, stretching her body out carefully. Oh boy. She made a face, not sure what hurt more, her shoulder or her side. "I'll make it just fine through dinner, then we can go home. It's not going to kill me, and spending the night at the hospital just might."
Tori scowled, but joined her as they started to walk slowly towards the restaurant. "Okay. Which one of us is going to let dad drive their car home? Cause you are not driving, let me tell you that right now."
Jade sighed. "I will." She gave Tori a wry look. "Yours is newer."
"Hm." Tori squared her shoulders before she opened the door. She didn't like the idea of waiting, since it was obvious to her that Jade was in considerable pain, but maybe… A small smile touched Tori's lips. Maybe when they got home, Jade would have a different perspective.
From across the room, she saw eyes look up and find them, and noted the guilt in the base commander's expression as he fiddled with his napkin. Chuckie was seated next to him in silence, and Ceci was carrying on most of the conversation with the commander's wife. She felt Jade straighten next to her, and saw her wife's chin lift, and her posture stiffen as they approached the table, taking her seat with easy grace and dignity.
Like nothing was wrong.
"Everything okay?" Ceci asked as Tori took her seat.
A quick glance at Jade's face. "Just great." Tori assured her. "Got any beer left?"
